Condenser for motor-cooling systems



Mafch 13, 1928. 1,662,440

S. W. RUSHMORE CONDENSER FOR MOTOR COOLING SYSTEMS Filed June 19. 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 Q n (Q R INVENTOR ,w ATTORNEY March 13, 1928. I 1,662,440

S. W. RUSH MORE CONDENSER FOR MOTOR COOL-ING SYSTEMS Filed June 19. 1925 2 Sheets-Shemv Z INVENTOR Jamaal ii flfaflzmore' f/rekATl'QRNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

warren STATES SAMUEL W. fiUSHMOTRE, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

connnnsna non moroncoonme sw's'rnms.

Application filed June 19, 1925. Serial No. 38,133.

My present-invention is shown (as-embodied in a cooling system for internal combustion engines of the types used on automobiles and other automotive conveyances, and many ol the novel features are of special utility where the cooling of the engine is by boiling of the jacket water and the condensing of the steam is by use of the radiator as a condenser, but it will be evident that Various features of the invention may be use lu'l in other relations.

lVhen radiators of any of theconventional types or sizes used on automobiles and trucks are used as condensers, one of the diflicult problems is how to get rid of air which trapped in the condenser and blocks the flow of steam to parts of the condenser surface, "thereby greatly decreasing the condensing capacity ot the radiator.

In certain of my prior patents, more particularly No. 1,455,739, granted May th, 1923, tliisd-iliioulty is f ully explained, as also how it may he obviated by restricting or otherwise increasing the outlet resistances of the parts of the radiator that are most easily traversed by the steam so that slow out-breathing is permitted at the outlet but uiuilue out-flow of steam in quantity is t'lrrottled by the high resistance of the outlet. This results in back pressure on steam supply to the other condensing passages, thereby forcing the steam to expel the air theretrom. Suitable restrictions applied to the outlets of some or all of the paths for through how ol the steam, either singly or by groups, will thus operate. Otherwise, the steam rushing through the easier paths of less resistance or of less condensing capacity, will curl back into the outlets of the I i other tubes, trapping the air therein. Usually this air is in the best cooled part of the comlenser and exclusion of the steam therefrom by the trapped air causes disproportionately great loss of condenser capacity.

restriction small enough for proper throtbe expelled from all of the passages before The above described patented invention is ltling of steam rush is likely to become clogged by dirt, rust, etc., which can be carried horizontally or downward by water much more readily than upward by steam I or arr. a o0 Mypresent invention relates to the con densers of the latter type, in which some or all of the condensate flows out of the con denser tube at the far end instead of atthe end where the steam enters. The object of the invention is to provide flow equalizing nestrictions for the outlet ends of such tubes which are designed for proper outlet of 'water and dirt while also affording a desired back pressure opposition to the out 7o rush of steam through the tubes of less flow resistance or of less condensing capacity.

of water, preferably the water normally maintained in the bottom chamber of the radiator, trom which the circulating pump drawsits supply for the waterjacket. The

eli ective hydrostatic pressure of the water seal opposing out rush of steam may :be determined by t-he depth to which the outlets are submerged below the normal surface of the water. The depth pressure available as back pressure on each of the passages is so vastly greaterithan the flow resistance of steam through the passages, that the air will 0 any substantial amount oi steam Wlll be (hecharged through any of them.

While it may be desirable in certain cases for some of the outlet tubes, as for instance the less well cooled tubes, to be submerged a slightly greater distance than the best cooled tubes, I find that in practice this is not necessary, because the agitation of the water by motion of the vehicleor vibration oi the engine or even incipient blowing of sortie ol thetubes will cause great variations in pressures on the outlets of individual tubes. The result is that under varying cond-itio-us each outlet becomes for the moment an outlet of minimum back pressure :and, if 'here is then a pressure of steam sufficient to blow through any tube, it will blow through that tube. Thus, when steam starts to blow at all, it will be only a short time before it has blown through all of them.

Ill

As the air is much heavier than the steam, all of the air will be expelled before any steam can get through.

An important advantage of the Water seal is that when the air is once expelled in this way, a decrease ol steam output cannot suck air back into the tubes because the outlets are submerged a substantial depth in a substantial volmne or water suliicient to rise and fill the tube to whatever extent necessary to satisfy the decrease oi supply pressure. lhis does not mean that the condenser will necessarily he operating under a pressure less than atmosphere since the operating pressures throughout the system can be detcrmined independently of atmosphere by employing suitable pressure and vacuum relief valves.

While I prefer to have the submerged outlets of the tubes entirely tree from mechanical constriction, relying entirely on the water pressure, I may combine with the water pressure a modified mechanical constriction.

On the other hand, it may be de=-'irable to provide relatively large area bell-mouth outlets for the tubes as tending to facilitate freer bubbling out of the air in response to the above described mechanical agitations of the water.

A minor feature of the invention is arranging lor downllow of water discharged into the upper chamber by the pump through one or two or a few selected tubes, which are preferably less well cooled than others. One or more of the condenser tubes, preferably the side tubes, may be utilized for this purpo e by arranging their intake ends in the upper chamber, at a lower level than the intake ends of the other tubes.

The above and other features of my invent-ion will he more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation conventionally indicating an automobile motor equipped with a cooling system in accordance with my present invention, the radiator condenser being partly in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a radiator with parts broken away to show the interior construction Fig. 3 is a. view like Fig. 2, showing an other embodiment of the invention;

Fig. atis a horizontal section on the line M, Fig. 3; and

5 is a detailed section on a line fi5, Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, the internal combustion engine is conventionally indicated as having water jacketed cylinders 1 in con1- munieation with a riser 2 joined by the usual flexible coupling 3 with an inlet 4; to the upper chamber .7 of the radiator, whence the water or steam finds its way through lhe thin air-cooled condenser pipes (5, U, to the bottom chamber 7, whence it is withdrawn through pipe.8 and pushed through pipe S) into the top of the water jacket by pump ll).

This pump is preferably a gear pump of relatively small capacity, substantially greater than the maxinuun steam generating capacity ol' the motor. Preferably the supply still more closely controlled to the maximum steaming requirements by constriction 11 in the intake pipe tv'.

in this and the other figures, the tiller inlot 12 and filler cap 13, whereby water is supplied to the system, discharge downward through a pipe 1% opening into the lower chamber T. This avoids danger of out-rush of scalding steam which would be likely to occur on removing the cap, it the inlet 12 communicated with the upper chamber Also in this and the other figures, the lower chamber 7 may be supplied with gauge cocks as, for instance, the low level cock l6 and high level cock 17, Fig. l. The latter cock may be used to blow oll' air after the apparatus has been operated a suliicient time to permit the accumulation of most of the air in the lower chamber 7.

This purpose, however, is normally served by a pressure relief valve as 18 (Fig. or ll) (Fig. $5). As explained in my prior patients first above referred to, these valves may he merely of the pressure relief sal'cty valve type or they may also include inlet valves adapted to relieve vacuum at a predetermined inward pressure.

As shown in Fig. :2, the intake of the blow out 18 may be extended to the longitudinal center of chamber 7 by the pipe 20 indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2. Also, if desired, the water supply pipe l l may be utilized as by locating the relief valve in the tiller cap 13. This location for the intake to the relief valve is desirable as it is near the natural center of tilt of the water level and less likely to be submerged when the radiator is tilted.

The above described features are desirable improvements tending to make more practial the essential principle of; operation, which is shown in Fig. as involving water sealing the lower ends of the tubes as (3, (3, preferably by extending then] 4l()\-'ll\.'ill'(l .-u that their outlets 6, 6 are a substantial distance below the minimum operating level of the water in the lower chan'iber 7.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that (Zll'll indi vidual tube is thus water sealed and the outlets are all on the same level. This has a certain disadvantage in so much as lateral tilt of the radiator will tend to decrease the pressure on the outlets of the tubes at one side or edge of the radiator and to increase the pressure on the other side. The alternate tilt such as will occur in an ordinary too naeaaae automobile will average up this inequality for the side "tubes, but can hardly be relied upon to do so for the central tubes which are near the center of the tilt and not subject to so much change of depth. This can be compensated for if desired by making the central tube shorter and less deeply submerged than the side tubes, or all of the tubes may be carried to a central point according to the principle shown and described in connection with'Fig. 3. v I

In Fig. 3 an expedient is utilized which is analogous to that disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,455,739, namely, the capping of the outlet ends of groups of tubes havingclosely similar flow resistances and condensing capacities. In Fig. 3 there are seven caps, a wide cap 21 for a certain distance on each side of the center wherethe tubes are all well cooled and substantially equally cooled by the fan, and smaller caps '22, 22, 23, 23 and 24, 24., symmetrically arranged on either side of cap 21. The outer caps '24, 24 cover the group of tubes which are usually less well cooled although, .as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, there are'some radiators which under some conditions of operation have the side tubes better cooled than the central tubes.

In Fig. 3 all of the tubes covered by each cap have a common outlet as through pipes '26, the open lower ends of which 26. are located near the center of change of level of the water and preferably in, a central sump or depressed portion 28 afi'ording a depth of I water greater than the average depth for chamber 7. In this case it is permissible to have the outlets as nearly as possible at the same level or depth below the surface of the water. The hydrostatic pressures are of course substantially the same for all of the pipes, regardless of What the length of the pipe may be. The free ends of the pipes may be anchored securely, but, as'shown, they are free to vibrate and this may prove desirable asaifording independent depth variations tending to cause each of the tubes to blow successively.

In Figure 3 the upper chamber 5 is shown as having at least one of the side pipes 6 arranged with its intake in a depression or sump 5, and theupper ends of'the tubes 6 areypreferably extended to a slight distance above the level of the floor 5 of this chamber 5. From this construction it results that during warming up before steaming begins, water discharged through the intake 4 will flow only through one or two of the side tubes 6', which in this case are supposed to be the least cooled tubes. This keeps the water in a closed circuit of very small radiating capacity and warming up is very rapid. After steaming begins, all of the tubes will come into operation as active condenser surface.

steam As before explained, when the chamber .5

and tubes 6 have once been swept clear of collecting chamberswith a suitable number oi? condenser tubes or passages receiving steam from said distributing chamber and draining condensate into said collecting chamber through the drainage outlets submerged below the normal le-ve'l ofthe body of water in the collecting chamberland near the center of said chamber;

2. In acirculatory cooling system for in ternal combustion engines adapted to operate by the boiling and condensing cycle, :a serially included radiator-condenser having separate steam distributing .and condensate collecting chambers with la suitable number ott' condenser tubes or passages receiving i'rom Hid distributing chamber and draining condensate into said collecting chamber through the drainage outlets submerged substantially equal distances be low the normal level of the body of water in the'c ollecting chamber, in a central depression or sump in the bottomof said chamber. 1 i I 3. In a circulatory cooling system for internal combustion engines adapted to operate by the boiling and condensing cycle, a serially included rad]ator-condenser having separate steam distributing and condensate collecting chambers with a suitable number of condenser tubes or passages receiving steam from said distributing chamber and draining condensate into said collecting chamber, certain passages having like flow resistances or condensing capacitie being .ar- V ranged to discharge through a'single outlet and the outlets of the several groups being submerged below the normal level of the water in the collecting chamber in'a depression or sump inthe bottom or said chamher.

4. In a circulatory coolingsystem for internal combustion engines adapted to operate by the boiling and condensing-cycle, a serially included radiator-condenser having separate steam distributing an-dcondensate collecting chambers with a suitable number of condenser tubes or passagesv receiving steam from said distributing chamber and draining condensate into said collecting chamber, certain passages having like flow resistances or condensing capacities being arranged to discharge through a singleoutlet and the outlets of the several groups the water in the collecting chamber near the center of said chamber.

5. In a circulatory system for cooling internal combustion engines by the boiling and condensing cycle, a radiator-eondenser hav ing a steam supply chamber, a condensate collecting chamber and a plurality of intermediate condenser passages having inlets receiving steam from said supply chamber and d aiming to the collecting chamber through outlets separate from their steam inlets, and a water sealed drainage outlet from the steam supply chamber draining water therefrom at a level below the inlets of most of said condenser passages.

(3. In a circulatory system for cooling internal combustion engines by the boiling and condensing cycle, a radiator-condenser having a steam supply chamber, a condensate collecting chamber and a plurality of intermediate condenser passages having inlets receiving steam from said supply chamber and draining to the collecting chamber through outlets separate from their steam inlets, and a conduit from the steam supply chamber draining water therefrom at a level below the inlets of most of said condenser passages, the outlet of said conduit being submerged below the normal level of-tbe water in the. collecting chamber.

7. In a. circulatory system for cooling internal combustion engines bythe boiling aml condensing cycle, a radiator-condcnser haw ing a steam supply chamber, a condensate collecting chamber and a plurality of intermediate condenser passages having inlets receiving steam from said supply chamber and draining to the collecting chamber through outlets separate from their steam inlets, and one of said passages being arranged as a drainage outlet from the steam supply chanr ber draining water theret'rom at a level be low the inlets of most of said condenser assages.

8. An air cooled radiatorcomlenser of the type having an upper steam chamber into which the steam is discharged, a lower collecting chamber and intermediate air cooled condensing tubes for downtlow of the steam having Water sealed outlets into the lower chamber, in combination with a tiller cap on the upper chamber and a filler pipe leading therefrom through the upper chamber and discharging into the lower chamber.

9. An air cooled radiator-condenscr of the type having an upper steam chamber into which the steam is discharged. a lower collecting chamber and intermediate air cooled condensing tubes for downflow of the steam having water sealed outlets into the lower chamber, one or more of the less effectively cooled tubes having their inlets from the upper chamber located at a lower level than those of the other tubes.

10. An air cooled radiator-condenser of the type having an upper steam chamber into which the steam is discharged. :1 lower collecting chamber and intern'iediate air cooled condensing tubes for downfiow of the steam having water sealed outlets into the lower chamber, one or more of the less etfertively cooled tubes having their inlets from the upper chamber located in depres sions in the bottom of the upper chamber.

11. An air cooled radiator-comlcuser of: the type having an upper steam chamber into which the steam is discharged. :1 lower collecting chamber and intermediate air cooled condensing tubes for downflow of the steam having outlets a substantial distance below the water level in the lower chamber and a pressure relief valve having its inlet located near the upper central portion of the lower chamber, about the normal level of water therein.

12. A radiator-condenser having a steam chamber into which the steam is discharged. :1 collecting chamber and a suitable number of air-cooled condensing passages for downtiow of the steam having their inlets substautially above the lowest level in the stean'i chamber and draining into said collecting chamber through outlets separate. from their inlets, in combination with a water sealed drainage outlet for water from a low level in the steam chamber and discharging to the collecting chamber.

13. In a circulatory cooling system for in ternal combustion engines adapted to operate by the boiling and condensing cycle, a serially included radiator-condenscr having separate steam distributing and condensate collecting chambers with a suitable number of condenser tubes or passages receiving steam from said distributing chamber and draining condensate into said collecting chamber, certain passages having likev flow resistances or condensing capacities being ar ranged to discharge through a single outlet and the outlets of the respective groups being designed and operating to apply back pressure opposing through flow of steam or air. under the conditions of use.

Signed at Plainfield. in the county of Union, and State of New Jersey this 17th day of June, A. D. 1925.

SAMUEL W. RUSHMORE. 

